Tennessee inmate blames failed execution

Christa Pike, 50, declared Friday that she is in constant pain and blames the state of Tennessee for the incompetence that allowed her to survive a lethal injection. The former death row inmate issued her first public statement one month after the botched procedure on Sept. 30. Pike, who was 18 when she was sentenced for the 1995 stabbing of classmate Colleen Slemmer, said she was prepared to die on her execution date. Instead, she woke up confused in a hospital bed. She told her legal team that her body, arms, hands, and throat all hurt. She noted that the pain is not just physical but also mental and spiritual.

The execution failed after the administration of two doses of pentobarbital. Pike’s lawyers reported that the drug caused burns and blisters on her arms. Medical experts suggest a problem with the IV line caused the medication to pool in her tissue rather than entering her bloodstream. For several days after the event, Pike was unconscious and required a ventilator. She was later transferred from the hospital to the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee responded to the incident by calling for an investigation into the failed execution. He also postponed the state’s other scheduled lethal injection for this year. Following the event, the state’s prison chief resigned. Lee told reporters this week that he expects Pike’s sentence to remain unchanged unless a court rules otherwise.

Pike’s attorneys have urged the governor to reduce her sentence to life imprisonment. They are seeking a commutation to reflect the state's error during the execution. Pike expressed gratitude for the medical workers who saved her life and the public who showed her kindness. She dictated the statement from the prison infirmary. She said she is trying to heal one day at a time while holding on to the support of people who reminded her she is not alone.

Pike said she never contemplated life beyond her execution date. She described waking up alone and confused. The statement highlights her physical struggles, including her difficulty speaking. She noted that some days make it harder to find hope. The failed injection has left her with lasting physical damage. Her case has drawn attention to the state's protocol for lethal injections. The investigation into the IV line issue is ongoing. Pike remains in the custody of the state prison system.